The Athletic FC Podcast – “Why Forest are Turning to Dyche”

Date: October 20, 2025
Host: Ayo Akemolere
Guests: David Ornstein, Paul Taylor, Dan Kilpatrick

Overview

This episode dives into the abrupt managerial change at Nottingham Forest, who sacked Ange Postecoglou after just 39 days and seem poised to appoint Sean Dyche. The discussion centers on why Postecoglou failed to make an impact, the involvement of ownership in footballing decisions, the suitability of Sean Dyche, and what the future might hold for both Nottingham Forest and Postecoglou.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ange Postecoglou’s Sudden Exit from Forest

• Tenure: Lasted only 39 days, the shortest spell for any permanent boss in Premier League history.
• Results: Zero wins in eight matches, statistically the worst managerial start in modern Forest history.
• Process: His appointment was largely seen as owner Evangelos Marinakis’s personal decision rather than the outcome of a thorough search process.
• Misfit: Postecoglou’s attacking, high-risk “Angeball” was at odds with the disciplined and defensive approach that the squad grew used to under Nuno Espirito Santo.
  • David Ornstein (02:29):

    “It didn’t feel that Ange Postecoglou’s appointment came about as part of a sort of thorough process. It was more a decision led from the owner... and from the very off, it didn’t feel quite right.”

2. Who’s to Blame for the Failed Appointment?

• Both Sides: The misfire is attributed to both the owner’s decision-making and the manager’s inability to adapt.
  • Paul Taylor (05:06):

    “It’s both, really... It was a poor appointment, it was a badly judged appointment. It was too much change from one man to another. But Marinakis has completely recognized that error and has moved to address it.”

• Fans’ Reaction: Forest supporters failed to warm to Postecoglou, in part due to his lack of engagement with the club’s culture and his self-focused public statements.
  • Paul Taylor (08:26):

    “Ange didn’t really help himself because...when he spoke, it was mainly about himself...he never used the word ‘we’ or talked about Forest in a sense that there was a bond.”

3. Was Postecoglou Given a Fair Chance?

• Fixture Congestion: No preseason, no transfer window, constant matches with little training time.
  • Dan Kilpatrick (06:04):

    “I don’t think 39 days is enough for any manager, really. But equally...this might have only gone from bad to worse.”

  • On the Squad:

    “The squad wasn’t necessarily suited to what he wanted...when he came in at Tottenham, everyone was desperate for that change...Forest fans didn’t want that, nor did the squad.”

• Fans’ Swift Turn:
  • Paul Taylor (15:39):

    “I’ve honestly never known a fan base turn on a manager quite so quickly as they did with Ange...the transition was so big from Nuno to Ange that I don’t think the fans could get their heads around it either.”

4. Postecoglou’s Managerial Approach and Its Limits

• Philosophy: Postecoglou is unbending, with an all-or-nothing approach to his football. Not interested in set pieces or pragmatic “dark arts.”
  • Dan Kilpatrick (12:39):

    “He’s not interested in coaching set pieces and the dark arts...I wonder if his football would have just been more successful in a different era.”

• Self-Belief vs. Awareness:
  • Paul Taylor (19:32):

    “If I’m not bullish, if I’m not confident…what are my players going to think?...he had to be the most invested.”

5. The Rationale Behind Appointing Sean Dyche

• Forest’s Next Move: The club is targeting Premier League safety and stability above all.
  • David Ornstein (21:27):

    “He’s the closest stylistic fit to Nuno...the defensive attributes, the set pieces which were so good but have since fallen off a cliff...He does tick a lot of boxes.”

• Dyche’s Background: Deep connections to Forest from his days as a trainee, and his assistants are club legends.
• Other Candidates: Roberto Mancini was approached but ultimately Dyche fit objectives better; Marco Silva was considered but unavailable due to contract complications.

6. Dyche’s Fit for Forest & Expectations

• Strengths & Limitations: Dyche is pragmatic and organized, but his ceiling may be limited to survival and lower-table stability.
  • Dan Kilpatrick (27:49):

    “He is a fabulous coach at keeping you up and getting you to a certain level. But...you will hit a glass ceiling under him.”

• Dyche’s Style vs. Squad Talent: Question whether he can utilize Forest’s attacking riches.
  • Paul Taylor (25:59):

    “There’s a team there that can play with structure...but there’s also some really, really good attacking players in there.”

  • On Fan support:

    “He will immediately have a bond...because he was in the Forest academy…and his assistants...are two Forest legends.”

7. Forest’s Disjointed Transfer Policy & Boardroom Issues

• Spending Spree: £200 million spent on 13 new players, many of whom haven’t featured.
• Disarray: Multiple managers in months; a director of football (Edu) whose arrival led to staff turnover and confusion on squad building.
  • Dan Kilpatrick (34:30):

    “A good director of football should...ensure there’s a philosophy and a strategy...We’ve just seen the polar opposite since Edu came into Forest.”

  • Paul Taylor (35:52):

    “Edu’s presence did prove to be the catalyst for the most successful manager in recent history leaving...It hasn’t been a success.”

8. Prospects for Forest & Dyche

• Europe: Dyche’s Burnley were able to reach Europe. Could he take Forest on a run in the Europa League?
  • Paul Taylor (37:42):

    “It’s a squad that should be capable of going a long way...the hierarchy will have told Dyche: steady the ship in the Premier League, then look to get back towards the top half and challenge for Europe.”

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• David Ornstein (02:29) – On the ownership’s hands-on approach:

  “With Forest, expect the unexpected. Nothing really surprises you, and I don’t mean that in a disrespectful way, but it’s a lively place, to say the least.”

• Paul Taylor (08:26) – Why Ange never won fan support:

  “Forest fans don’t want a lot, but they want somebody who understands the club...for Postecoglou, when he spoke, it was mainly about himself...never about...a bond there and a relationship with the club.”

• Dan Kilpatrick (06:04) – On context and bad timing:

  “He didn’t have a pre-season, didn’t have a transfer window...he had a European campaign to contend with...Forest were in decline…”

• Paul Taylor (15:39) – On fan backlash:

  “I’ve honestly never known a fan base turn on a manager quite so quickly as they did with Ange...his own fans were singing, ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning.’”

• Dan Kilpatrick (12:39) – On stylistic mismatch:

  “Maybe Ange’s big-picture approach just isn’t of this Premier League era.”

• Paul Taylor (25:59) – On Dyche’s misunderstood style:

  “He isn’t just a sort of bread and butter defensive, ‘grind out a 1-0 and go and have pie and mash and a tea.’ He’s a bit more than that.”

• Dan Kilpatrick (27:49) – On Dyche’s potential glass ceiling:

  “He’ll keep you up and get you competitive, but...unlikely to push a great deal higher than that.”

Timestamped Guide to Important Segments

• 01:34 – Introduction, Postecoglou’s sacking set up
• 02:29 – Ornstein on the flawed appointment process and owner’s influence
• 05:06 – Paul Taylor on blame shared between owner and manager
• 06:04 – Dan Kilpatrick: Impossible task for Ange; deep context from Spurs and Bournemouth examples
• 08:26 – Forest fan sentiment, comparison with previous managers
• 10:23 – Was the sacking too soon? Paul Taylor on internal thinking
• 12:39 – Dan Kilpatrick: Premier League environment now more pragmatic, less suited to Angeball
• 15:39 – The press conference, perception among journalists; fan backlash
• 17:06 – Dan Kilpatrick: What’s next for Postecoglou’s career?
• 19:32 – Paul Taylor: Postecoglou’s character and unbending approach
• 21:27 – David Ornstein: Why Dyche was Forest’s pick, the process, and other names considered
• 25:59 – Paul Taylor: Dyche’s upside and connection to the club and fans
• 27:49 – Dan Kilpatrick: Concerns over Dyche’s long-term fit
• 31:24 – Forest’s summer transfer market disconnect; Postecoglou’s selection chaos
• 33:06 – Paul Taylor: Dyche’s squad inheritance and expectations
• 34:30 – Issues with Forest’s recruitment and Director of Football Edu
• 37:42 – Can Dyche guide Forest on a European run?

Conclusion

The podcast thoroughly explores Forest’s chaotic managerial situation, the unique challenges and failings of Ange Postecoglou’s tenure, the boardroom missteps that aggravated the club's instability, and the pragmatic, if unglamorous, appeal of Sean Dyche. While Dyche offers a return to defensive stability and fan alignment, doubts remain about the club’s long-term vision and whether Forest’s turbulent approach can ever deliver lasting progress.

“What Forest need, and probably what fans crave as much as anything, is just a bit of familiarity, knowing what’s coming, having an identity and a blueprint.”
— Paul Taylor (32:00)